The short film ‘The Pick Up’—featuring a sultry scenario where a man walks into a bar and meets a very attractive lady called Gonorrhoea—has taken out the top prize in the industry-first short film competition #SaveTheScript. The competition was a highly successful collaboration between Tropfest and NPS MedicineWise. Entrants were briefed to make a 45-second short film about the threat of antibiotic resistance. Winners were announced tonight (24 June) in Sydney.

“Antibiotics aren’t what they used to be,” the man at the bar is told seductively by his new friend Gonorrhoea. “People use them so often these days the world has created new strains of superbugs that spread old favourites like tuberculosis, syphilis and yours truly.”

The film is the work of OneWay Pictures. Producer Vincent Zimbardi says of their inspiration for the film, “as antibiotics continue to lose their power, such an important and serious message needed to get out there and reach people. Sometimes audiences deflect overly dramatic and serious communication. We know people embrace and engage in humour, so we wondered, what if gonorrhoea was a person?”. The film wins the first prize of $7000 and the honour of being screened at Tropfest 2015 this December.

The judges were also charmed by an animation featuring a young girl and her toy rabbit in Second Prize Winner ‘Fight Antibiotic Resistance‘. Created by animation director Stevie Watkins, the film will make every parent stop and think about the issue of antibiotic resistance as the whimsical world of the young girl ends up in a serious, devastating health situation. The film wins a $2000 prize.

Taking out Third Prize is a creative and striking animation featuring an army of zombies, volcanic explosions and fierce killer bees. The film ‘10 Million Deaths’ brings home the recent and dire prediction that 10 million people could die each year from antibiotic resistance by 2050. The animation was the work of Seek and Hide Productions and wins $1500.

Collaborating with a not-for-profit organisation on a health issue was a new step for Tropfest and Managing Director Michael Laverty says he is “absolutely thrilled by the incredible entries received and how filmmakers took this serious issue in so many creative, inspiring avenues to raise awareness. The campaign was industry-first and boundary pushing and we encourage people to watch and share these films.”

NPS MedicineWise Managing Director, Dr Lynn Weekes said that she is thrilled that so many filmmakers embraced the competition and its progressive approach to raising awareness about antibiotic resistance.

“Antibiotic resistance is a serious global health issue that is already affecting our community. Conversations must happen in lots of different places to ensure people understand this threat and our role in preventing it. Short films have enormous potential to reach a global audience and encourage people to think about how they can join the fight against antibiotic resistance,” said Dr Weekes.

Judge Lindsay ‘The Doctor’ McDougall, guitarist with Frenzal Rhomb, said about the competition overall, "I'm a little ashamed to say that before I was asked to judge this competition, I didn't know much about the very real threat of antibiotic resistance. Now because of it I got to learn something really important, with a whole bunch of very talented writers, animators, directors and actors as my teacher."

Films were submitted from around the world (including Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the United States) and were created by high school students, amateur and professional film makers, health professionals and people whose lives have been affected by antibiotic resistance.

Finalist films can be viewed on the NPS MedicineWise YouTube channel here.

The full judging panel can be found on the NPS MedicineWise website here

Honorary guest of the festival, Michael Nyman, will be awarded the Golden Duke Lifetime Achievement Award on  July 10, 2015 at the OIFF opening ceremony. Michael Nyman will present, together with the Michael Nyman Band, his musical arrangement for the film “The Man with the Movie Camera” by Dziga Vertov at the Potemkin stairs for the traditional open-air screening.

Jim Sheridan, six-time Academy Award nominee and winner of numerous international awards, will personally present his retrospective, which includes a selection of his most prominent films:

- My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989) about the life of Christy Brown, the Irish writer and artist, born with cerebral palsy (two Academy Awards); 
- In the Name of the Father (1993) that tells the story of Gerry Conlon, the Irishman wrongly convicted of an IRA bomb attack in the U.K. The film won an award at Berlinale in 1994 and got seven Oscar nominations;
- a semi-autobiographical film In America (2002), dedicated to Jim Sheridan's late brother Frankie;
- The Field (1990), a feature about the Irish famine.

OIFF 2015 Gala Premieres Program
The lineup of out-of-competition program, Gala Premieres, includes the Academy Award winning drama Birdman by  Alejandro González Iñárrituu. The story of an aging movie star (Michael Keaton) was nominated for in 9 Oscars and subsequently won 4 awards, including The Academy Award for Best Picture. The program will also include  a fresh interpretation of Nabokov's story by Marielle Heller - The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which won the Grand Prix of the Generation 14 plus International Jury at the Berlinale 2015; and Palme d'Or nominee, Nanni Moretti's family drama Mia Madre, with a famous Italian actress Margherita Buy in the leading role.

The 6th Odessa International Film Festival will be held on July 10-18, 2015. 

Backsberg Estate Cellars CEO Simon Back  (right) with Odette Geldenhuys , co-producer of The Shore Break which won the Backsberg Audience Choice Award at Encounters South African International Documentary Festival for Best South African Film. 

Audience enjoying a Q & A after a screening of The Shore Break at Encounters. 

Today it was announced that Ryley Grunenwald’s The Shore Break, won the prestigious Backsberg Audience Choice Award at Encounters South African International Documentary Festival for Best South African Film. The award-winning documentary film follows the dilemma faced by a rural community on South Africa’s Wild Coast as to whether to support or resist a proposed titanium mining project and a national tolled highway.

Grunenwald says she is thrilled with the accolade. “Both my co-producer Odette Geldenhuys and I are really pleased about the win. The Shore Break was a labour of love so it is very rewarding to know it is well received by South African audiences. It was an important story to tell because it captures the nuance and complexity around issues of developing the Wild Coast. The story follows two Pondo cousins who have opposing dreams for the future of their land. One wants to preserve the land through sustainable development while the other plans to mine it for titanium, believing large scale development is the only way to improve employment opportunities.”

“The audience award is based on a complicated calculation in which the festival takes into account the capacity of the cinemas, numbers of tickets sold and the votes cast.” says Odette Geldenhuys. “The film captured the imagination of festival goers, so much so that all our five scheduled screenings were sold out and we had to have two additional screenings in Cape Town and Johannesburg.”

Backsberg Estate Cellars CEO Simon Back  adds, “It is a great honour for us to sponsor the Audience Choice Awards. The aim of the awards is to raise awareness around the festival and what has resonated with audiences. With sustainability being core to the way we run our winery, I am also thrilled that both winners raise awareness around critical environmental matters.” 

The Shore Break, which was a project in the 2013 Durban FilmMart, will have its co-premiere at the 36th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on July 18, 2015 with four screenings only during the festival which runs from July 16 to 26.

For more information about film go to www.theshorebreakmovie.com,

Trailer:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theshorebreakmovie

Twitter: http://twitter.com/theshorebreak

and for the DIFF go to www.durbanfilmfestival.co.za

The Shore Break had its European premiere at IDFA 2014 (Competition for First Appearance), The Netherlands, and had other screenings at FIFE 2015 (where it won Feature Length Documentary), France, FIFF 2015, France, Festival Millennium 2015, Belgium, Hot Docs 2015, Canada, Sydney International Film Festival 2015, Australia, Encounters International Documentary Film Festival 2015, South Africa and will be screened at DIFF 2015 and the International Film Festival for Human Rights 2015, Argentina.

Below are audience comments pulled from the Facebook page of the film, as well as the director’s and producer’s Facebook pages, or emailed to them.

"It is a wonderful film. Everyone possible must see it. Please put it on the Films for Action site. Congrats again.”

“During the panel discussion we felt Nonhle’s courage and her passion, which followed through from the film.”

“This is the best documentary I have ever seen.”

“Thanks so much for the film. What an accomplishment balancing all the layers and all the intrigue. Great stuff!”  

"The film is great on all levels – story, drama, great characters, fantastic footage and cinematography, topical subject matter, it is all there."

"The film was excellent. You did a sterling job."

"I watched your movie today. It was profoundly lovely and engaging and interesting. The animations were magical."

"What a feat balancing all the intrigue and complexity. Congrats!”

The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film was awarded to Andrew Haigh’s 45 YEARS which received its UK Premiere at the Festival. His beautiful portrait of a fractured relationship wins one of the longest-running film awards in the UK, honouring imagination and creativity in British filmmaking. The Award was presented by actor Jane Seymour.

The winner was chosen by the Michael Powell Jury, chaired by LA Times film critic Kenneth Turan with actor/director Karen Gillan and actor Ian Hart. Special Mentions were given to Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT and J. Davis’ MANSON FAMILY VACATION.

Director Andrew Haigh said: “This is a real honour and made even more special when you consider the list of British films that have won before. All you can hope for when you make a film is that it resonates with people and that is why receiving an award such as this feels so fantastic.”

The Award for Best Performance in a British Feature Film was shared between James Cosmo for his performance in THE PYRAMID TEXTS and Charlotte Rampling for her performance in 45 YEARS.  The performance awards were also selected by the Michael Powell Jury. The Award was presented to James Cosmo by Ewen Bremner, while Charlotte Rampling was unable to attend in person.

The Award for Best International Feature Film was awarded to Marielle Heller’s THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL(USA), which received its UK Premiere at EIFF. The award is given to filmmakers from outside of the UK in recognition of their imagination and innovation. Director Amy Berg chaired the International Feature Film Competition Jury, with actors Archie Panjabi and Natascha McElhone. The Award was presented by EIFF Honorary Patron, Seamus McGarvey.

The Award for Best Documentary Feature Film was awarded to Crystal Moselle’s THE WOLFPACK (USA). The award underlines the Festival’s long-standing support of documentaries. The winner was selected by the Best Documentary Feature Film Jury, chaired by AFI Festival Director Jacqueline Lyanga, with actors Denis Lawson and Jo Hartley. The Award was presented by Mark Adams, Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

SCRAPBOOK directed by Mike Hoolboom won The Award for Best Short Film. The award was bestowed by the Short Films Jury which was chaired by director Kyle Patrick Alvarez with actors Dolly Wells and Jaime Winstone. Special Mentions went to Juliana Bao’s performance in Maruani Landa’s CIPRIANA and Ahmet Simsek’s performance in Jannis Lenz’s SHADOWBOXER. The Award was presented by Diane Henderson, Deputy Artistic Director of EIFF.

Voted for by the audience, The McLaren Award for Best New British Animation, supported by the British Council,went to STEMS by director Ainslie Henderson. Named after Scottish-born filmmaker Norman McLaren, the McLaren Award is the longest running award celebrating creativity amongst UK animation talent. The Award was presented by animator Barry Purves.

The Student Critics Jury Award, supported by James and Morag Anderson, was awarded by Jury members Catriona Morton and Sunrise Ishimwe to BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS directed by Jamie Adams. The award was determined by a jury of young film critics who were under the guidance of film critics Siobhan Synnot and Dave Calhoun.

*From official press release. 

Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa"Carry On" Receives Best of the Festival Award "Submarine" Receives Future Filmmaker Award; "The Way of Tea", "Body Team 12" and "Bear Story" Receive Audience Awards;

The 2015 Palm Springs International ShortFest, the largest short film festival and only short film market in North America, announced its Festival award winners on Sunday, June 21, 2015. 330 short films screened throughout the Festival along with more than 3,000 filmmaker submissions available in the film market. More than $115,000 in prizes, including $20,000 in cash awards were awarded in 21 categories. Held from June 16-22, 2015, the Festival had another record-breaking year in attendance for ticket buyers, filmmakers and film industry delegates.

It's been a spectacular success on all fronts for ShortFest this year, with a uniformly ecstatic response from audience and filmmakers alike for the screenings, the panels and seminars and the special events the Festival mounted,” said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald. “With record numbers of attendees and filmmakers, the Festival lived up to its growing reputation as one of the most important events of its kind in the world.”

The 2015 Palm Springs International ShortFest award winners are:

JURY AWARDS

BEST OF FESTIVAL AWARD – Winner received $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Final Cut Pro X courtesy of Apple Computer. The winner of this award may be eligible to submit their film to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Oscar consideration.

Carry On (Esel) (Austria), Rafael Haider. This sublime tale focuses on an elderly couple who tend to what’s left of their once-thriving farm with the help of an aged donkey on its last legs. But when the time comes to face reality, can the farmer do what is called for?

GRAND JURY AWARD – Winner received $2,000 cash prize

Over (UK), Jörn Threlfall. What has happened in this quiet, suburban neighborhood? Has there been a murder, a hit-and-run, an accident? The reality is both profound and deeply unexpected, and unfolds in reverse in this quiet mystery that rewards the patient viewer.

FUTURE FILMMAKER AWARD – Winner received a $2,000 cash prize.

Submarine (Brazil), Rafael Aidar. Love and loneliness waltz in this slow reveal of a man whose connection to his lover keeps him finding new ways to re-ignite his past.

PANAVISION BEST NORTH AMERICAN SHORT – Camera package valued at $60,000 courtesy of Panavision.

Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa. In the aftermath of a tragedy, a mother is forced to deal with her own internal grief as well as the harsh realities of the world around her.

BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD (From a US Film School) - $1,000 cash prize courtesy of KQED San Francisco and camera package valued at $10,000 courtesy of Radiant Images

It’s Better in Italian (USA/Italy), Jordan Ledy. A delightful look behind the scenes at the world of dubbing American movie stars in films for the Italian market.

HONORARY MENTIONS

Exceptional Performance by an Actress - Miriam Zohar, Paris on the Water (Paris Al Amayim) (Israel)

Exceptional Cinematography – August (Poland), Tomek Slesicki

AUDIENCE AWARDS

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

The Way of Tea (les frémissements du thé) (France), Marc Fouchard. Set in a small town in northern France, The Way of Tea explores the meeting of Alex, a young skinhead, and Malic, an Arab shopkeeper, who meet one fateful night that tests the mettle of both men. An eloquent statement about prejudice and stereotypes.

Runner-up – Contrapelo (Mexico/USA/UK), Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Body Team 12 (Liberia), David Darg. A glimpse into the work of a group of courageous people tasked with the removal and disposal of bodies during the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Both gut wrenching and inspiring, the film focuses on the sole woman on the team, and her perspective on the crisis in her country.

Runner-up – It’s Better in Italian (USA/Italy), Jordan Ledy

BEST ANIMATION SHORT

Bear Story (Historia de un Oso) (Chile), Gabriel Osorio. Through the magical prism of a marionette theater, a world-weary bear tells his life story.

Runner-up – SOAR (USA), Alyce Tzue

SHORTFEST ONLINE AUDIENE AWARD

The Deadman (Peru), Franco Finocchiaro. A young man who everyone assumed was dead reappears at his parent’s house mysteriously after seven years, shortly followed by two detectives with more questions than answers.

JURY CATEGORY AWARDS

Awards in the non-student and student categories were selected by ShortFest jury members David Ansen (Writer), Gregg Kilday (Film Editor at The Hollywood Reporter), Steve Greene (Assistant Editor of Indiewire's Criticwire Network), Dan Ireland (Writer/Director/Producer), Roberta Munroe (Writer/Director/Producer), Barry Primus (actor), Kim Waltrip (Independent Film Producer). All first place winners in the non-student categories received a cash award of $2,000. First place winners in the non-student Animation and Live Action categories may be eligible for Academy Awards consideration. Second place recipients received a $500 cash prize.

BEST AnimatION short

First Place ($2,000) - Bear Story (Historia De Un Oso) (Chile), Gabriel Osorio. Through the magical prism of a marionette theater, a world-weary bear tells his life story.

Second Place ($500) – The Orchestra (Australia), Mikey Hill

BEST Live Action short over 15 minutes

First Place ($2,000) - The Good Life-Over There (Det Gode Livet, Der Borte) (Norway), Izer Aliu. Sami, an Albanian immigrant to Norway, spends the day babysitting his boss’ spoiled adolescent son who teaches him a surprising lesson about the sacrifices he's made for his family back home.

Second Place ($500) – Submarine (Brazil), Rafael Aidar

Special Mention– Brothers (UK), Thordur Palsson

BEST Live Action short 15 MINUTES AND UNDER

First Place ($2,000) - August (Poland), Tomek Slesicki. A teenage boy hangs out with a pretty girl and a young boy and his dog in the fields. Over his shoulder is slung a bag with unknown contents, which will eventually prove the cost of first love.

Second Place ($500) – Over (United Kingdom), Jörn Threlfall

Special Mention – Ave Maria (Palestine/France/Germany), Basil Khalil

BEST Documentary short

First Place ($2,000) - Pink Boy (USA), Eric Rockey. This remarkable documentary introduces us to Jeffrey, a young, ‘gender non-conforming’ boy being raised by his lesbian moms in conservative rural Florida who provide him with exactly the kind of support and guidance he needs to make his way in a potentially hostile world.

Second Place ($500) –Pebbles At Your Door (Denmark), Vibeke Bryld

STUDENT CATEGORIES

All first place winners in these categories received a 1-year download membership to Videoblocks, AudioBlocks or GraphicStock.

BEST STUDENT ANIMATION

First Place – SOAR (USA), Alyce Tuze. A precocious young girl makes a new friend when a tiny boy pilot drops out of the sky on a broken flying machine. Now she must race against time to return him home, before her new friend becomes stranded on Earth forever.

Second Place – After the End (UK), Sam Southward

Honorable Mention – The Present (Germany), Jacob Frey

BEST STUDENT Live Action short over 15 minutes

First Place – Paris on the Water (Paris Al Amayim) (Israel), Hadas Ayalon. Bathya and Michel – both actors - have been married for 50 years, and while Michel has continued to have a successful career in a TV medical drama series, her once-thriving career has gone dormant. Then Bathya finds herself up for a potential key role in a new movie, bringing her hopes for a career revival, but on the morning of her audition, something happens that forces her to reassess her priorities in life.

Second Place – The Little Death (Den Lille Døden) (Norway), Simon Tillaas

BEST STUDENT Live Action short 15 MINUTES AND UNDER

First Place – Marta Rosa (USA/Mexico), Barbara Cigarroa. In the aftermath of a tragedy, a mother is forced to deal with her own internal grief as well as the harsh realities of the world around her.

Second Place – Zelos (USA/Iceland), Thoranna Sigurdardottir

BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY short

First Place – It’s Better in Italian (USA/Italy), Jordan Ledy. A delightful look behind the scenes at the world of dubbing American movie stars in films for the Italian market.

Second Place – The Tour Guide (Ha Madricha) (Israel/Germany), Amos Geva

ADDITIONAL PRIZES

ALEXIS AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING STUDENT FILMMAKER – The Alexis Award is selected by the Festival’s programming team and was created in honor of Alexis Echavarria, a young filmmaker, whose talent as a budding filmmaker and gift for inspiring excellence among his fellow students were cut short suddenly in 2005 at age 16. The recipient received Final Cut Pro X courtesy of Apple Computer.

First Place - Zelos (USA), Thoranna Sigurdardottir

As a modern woman you have an endless to-do list. Between your family, your career, and your hobbies, you want to do it all, and do it all well. With Zelos, YOU CAN...

HP BRIDGING THE BORDERS AWARD PRESENTED BY CINEMA WITHOUT BORDERS - The winner received the award’s diploma and an HP ZBook Mobile Workstation with a color critical HP DreamColor display and Thunderbolt™ 2, an approximately $3000 value. The runner received a certificate for an upcoming Method Acting Intensive Workshop provided by The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute with a value of $2000

First Place – Ave Maria (Palestine/France/Germany), Basil Khalil. A Jewish family's car breaks down outside a nunnery during Shabat, inadvertently knocking off the head of the Virgin Mary. The driver’s mother and wife are eager to return home. After exhausting all options they turn to the nuns for help.

Special Jury Prize – Rangan 99 (Iran), Tiyam Yabandeh

About Palm Springs International ShortFest: Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA and BIFA as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market, one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world, will take place in Palm Springs on June 16-22. Now in its 21st year and recently taking 8th place in the annual USA Today 10Best poll, ShortFest will showcase over 300 short films from more than 50 countries. The concurrent Short Film Market will feature a library of more than 3,000 films available to film buyers, industry and press, the only Short Film Market in North America. The ShortFest Forums are four days of panels, roundtables and master classes staged free of charge for attending filmmakers.

The Title Sponsor is the City of Palm Springs with Presenting Sponsors The Desert Sun and Spencer’s. Major Sponsors include: Panavision, Stampede Post Productions, LA Creative, the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the Casting Society of America, Radiant Images, Vacation Palm Springs, Smart Source/CRE and The Australian Consulate General in Los Angeles. The official host hotel and media center is the Renaissance Palm Springs and the official rental car is Hertz. For more information and tickets, call (760) 778-8979 or (800) 898-7526 FREE or visit the website: www.psfilmfest.org.

The Palm Springs International Film Festival will be held January 1-11, 2016.

-Edited by Vanessa McMahon

The 69th Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) Awards were announced at the EIFF Awards Ceremony today, held at Filmhouse in Edinburgh, hosted by  journalist, broadcaster and newsreader Jackie Bird. The Ceremony took place ahead of Sunday’s Closing Gala, which concludes the 12-day Festival with the World Premiere of Scott Graham’s IONA, and the EIFF Audience Award, voted for by the public, will also be announced.

The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film was awarded to Andrew Haigh’s 45 YEARS which received its UK Premiere at the Festival. His beautiful portrait of a fractured relationship wins one of the longest-running film awards in the UK, honouring imagination and creativity in British filmmaking. The Award was presented by actor Jane Seymour.

The winner was chosen by the Michael Powell Jury, chaired by LA Times film critic Kenneth Turan with actor/director Karen Gillan and actor Ian Hart. Special Mentions were given to Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT and J. Davis’ MANSON FAMILY VACATION.

The Michael Powell Jury said: “We’re delighted to present the Michael Powell Award for best British feature. This year it goes to a quietly explosive film which represents classic filmmaking at its best. This is a measured yet provocative film, a masterclass in understated acting that was the unanimous choice of the jury.”

Director Andrew Haigh said: “This is a real honour and made even more special when you consider the list of British films that have won before. All you can hope for when you make a film is that it resonates with people and that is why receiving an award such as this feels so fantastic.”

The Award forBest Performance in a British Feature Film was shared between James Cosmo for his performance in THE PYRAMID TEXTS and Charlotte Rampling for her performance in 45 YEARS.  The performance awards were also selected by the Michael Powell Jury. The Award was presented to James Cosmo by Ewen Bremner, while Charlotte Rampling was unable to attend in person.

Jury member Ian Hart said: “There’s an old actor’s joke when someone’s rehearsing a scene and they come across a certain piece of text and they say I don’t need that line, I can do that with a look. But most people can’t so the line goes back in. But certain people can, they can do more with a gesture, they can do more with a look than most people can do with ten words, and this is why this award goes to Charlotte Rampling.”

Jury member Karen Gillan said: “I think I speak to all up and coming Scottish actors when I say James Cosmo is a huge inspiration, his acting is a lesson to us all, you show us how it’s done.”

Charlotte Rampling said: “It is an extraordinary moment when you are singled out when the craft that you have been perfecting throughout your life is appreciated and rewarded. It is thrilling and humbling and I thank you so much for giving me the chance to feel so proud. I thank Andrew Haigh for seeing what he sees, Tom Courtenay for moving me to tears, and Tristan Golligher for believing that this could be made.”

The Award for Best International Feature Film was awarded to Marielle Heller’s THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (USA), which received its UK Premiere at EIFF. The award is given to filmmakers from outside of the UK in recognition of their imagination and innovation. Director Amy Berg chaired the International Feature Film Competition Jury, with actors Archie Panjabi and Natascha McElhone. The Award was presented by EIFF Honorary Patron, Seamus McGarvey.

The International Competition Jury said: “The Diary of a Teenage Girl is imaginative both visually and narratively, emotionally gripping and completely unapologetic in tone. We had a tough decision to make as we had some very strong contenders.”

Marielle Heller said: “Although this is an American film, it was made by a very international group, including our North Star, the British Bel Powley, whose brave performance is the heart of this film.  I am so pleased to have such a prestigious UK premiere for the film at Edinburgh, and I am especially thrilled for Bel's performance to be brought to her home turf for the first time.  And I am so honoured by this award, which was a wonderful shock!”

The Award for Best Documentary Feature Film was awarded to Crystal Moselle’s THE WOLFPACK (USA). The award underlines the Festival’s long-standing support of documentaries. The winner was selected by the Best Documentary Feature Film Jury, chaired by AFI Festival Director Jacqueline Lyanga, with actors Denis Lawson and Jo Hartley. The Award was presented by Mark Adams, Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival

The Best Documentary Feature Film Jury said: “Out of a very strong field, the Jury has selected THE WOLFPACK as the best documentary in competition at the 2015 Edinburgh International Film Festival. Shot over five years, the director Crystal Moselle turned a chance encounter with six brothers into an intriguing, intimate portrait that shines a light on the warmth, humour and underlying tension of an extraordinary situation.”

SCRAPBOOK directed by Mike Hoolboom won The Award for Best Short Film. The award was bestowed by the Short Films Jury which was chaired by director Kyle Patrick Alvarez with actors Dolly Wells and Jaime Winstone. Special Mentions went to Juliana Bao’s performance in Maruani Landa’s CIPRIANA and Ahmet Simsek’s performance in Jannis Lenz’s SHADOWBOXER. The Award was presented by Diane Henderson, Deputy Artistic Director of EIFF.

The Short Films Jury citation read: “We found Scrapbook to be incredibly unique, singularly captivating, unlike anything we have seen before. Congratulations to Mike Hoolboom on making such a moving film. We would also like to give a special mention to the lead actress in Cipriana, Juliana Boa who gave an incredibly brave performance for such a young actress. We would also like to give a special mention to Ahmet Simsek’s performance in Shadowboxer whose work we found incredibly moving and touching, a really captivating performance.”

Mike Hoolboom said: “I feel touched this afternoon by a hand that has reached all the way across the Atlantic to find me in my Toronto home: who knew that hands could reach that far, and with such kindness. It reminds me that the cinema is able, sometimes, at least occasionally, to bring far away people so close, close enough that they can feel like part of our lives, and help us with this fundamental task: how can we get along with each other?”

Voted for by the audience, The McLaren Award for Best New British Animation, supported by the British Council, went to STEMS by director Ainslie Henderson. Named after Scottish-born filmmaker Norman McLaren, the McLaren Award is the longest running award celebrating creativity amongst UK animation talent. The Award was presented by animator Barry Purves.

The Student Critics Jury Award, supported by James and Morag Anderson, was awarded by Jury members Catriona Morton and Sunrise Ishimwe to BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS directed by Jamie Adams. The award was determined by a jury of young film critics who were under the guidance of film critics Siobhan Synnot and Dave Calhoun.

The Student Critics Jury citation read: “We’ve seen such a variety of films, and all of us have our favourites, and our guilty pleasures – and what’s more, they’ve all been very different! It was genuinely challenging to pick just one – but in the end, our vote was unanimous.”

Jamie Adams, director of BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS said: “The idea that a dozen or so students have concluded that our movie Black Mountain Poets is the one that has excited their collective imaginations the most out of the brilliant movies they considered is a beautiful thing - it reminds me why we set out to create our modern romance trilogy in the first place.”

www.edfilmfest.org.uk/press

Film Festival Shorts

DVD Release: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010GPW4DE/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_oewKvb048R25R

IMDB Page: www.imdb.com/title/tt4811332

“Film Festival Shorts” is a compilation film of shorts screened at film festivals in USA, Canada and France. These are excerpts from shorts and music videos released in film festivals and gala events between year 2005 to 2013 and remixed re-editions of the same films made from 2014 to 2015.  These films have been released in film festivals in Miami, Los Angeles, New York USA, Vancouver, BC , Canada and Cannes, Paris France.  All footage of premieres and parties of these shorts  is released in a  separate film/documentary called “Omer Pasha World Premieres.”

The films cover all themes of action, adventure, reality, love, dance, glamour, music, fashion, religion, spirituality, dance, horror and comedy.  These films were released at film festivals, night clubs, after parties, cock tail parties, fashion shows, gala evening events and private disco parties in Manhattan New York City, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Cannes France and Vancouver BC Canada between the years 2005 to 2013.

Numerous storylines follow , a young boy is cursed by an evil witch in his love life. Two girls taken away from him in a ferocious curse by a  supernatural   witch. He has to break the curse with the power of spirituality. The curse of the evil witch spreads all over to California. The spells and curses take over Glendale, Sacramento , Hollywood, Santa Monica, San Diego and Santa Barbara. The boy  breaks the curse of the evil witch and realizes the witch had her own sorrows too, thus he saves her too.  All curses are broken. Sexy , luscious and seductive men and women hover over Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, San Diego, Santa Monica, Sacramento, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Orange County, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Melrose Avenue, LAX Airport and Ivar Street in Los Angeles turning entire California into a 'flooding' night club frenzy of dance and love.  Music videos and shorts change into the art of the second coming of Christ and the emergence of the anti christ, basically the ends of times.  It symbolizes with the airplanes and explosions that there will be wars around that time the anti christ will emerge. The parades in the film of various armies symbolize the parade of the anti christ , and how he will emerge.  Also the calling of dead spirits back to the world is beautiful.  Musicals depict romance, tea lights, candles, nightlife, narration of love with beautiful men and women.  Music videos are based on Arizona, Florida, California, Toronto and Vancouver, BC as a celebration of reality fashion style and parties.

Director: Omer Pasha

Music: Omer Pasha

Editor: Omer Pasha

Producer: Omer Pasha

All Rights Reserved

Made in Canada

With great pride and joy we announce that this year's guest of honour and receiver of Honorary Vicious Cat award at Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival will be the legendary German actor Udo Kier, one of the most iconic faces of world cinema. In his amazing career he appeared in over 200 films, from low-budget horror and erotic films to celebrated arthouse films and Hollywood blockbusters. He collaborated with directors such as Dario Argento, John Carpenter, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog, Lars von Trier, Wim Wenders, Gus van Sant and Paul Morrissey.

11th Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival will take place in Ljutomer, Slovenia, from the 14th to the 18th of July 2015. Once again it will feature a fierce selection of fantastic films, numerous film guests from all over the world, wine tasting events, art exhibitions, book presentations, live concerts and much more!

http://www.grossmann.si

The Creative Coalition and TV GuideMagazine announce that the first annual Television Industry Advocacy Awards will be held  Friday, 5:30 pm September 18th at The Sunset Tower in West Hollywood. This invitation-only event will bring together television’s most significant actors, showrunners, and executives to recognize those who use the power of their celebrity to advocate for charity and social causes.

“The Creative Coalition was galvanized to encourage leaders in the entertainment industry to use their mighty voices and unique platforms to influence positive change in the world.  These Awards allow us to recognize members of the television industry who use their voices and unique platforms for the common good,” said The Creative Coalition CEO Robin Bronk.

“TV Guide Magazine and TVInsider.com are proud to present this evening with The Creative Coalition.  We are committed to supporting this initiative and the honorees with an exciting special feature that sheds a spotlight on their efforts in the September 21st issue of TV Guide and on the TV Insider web site,” said TV Guide CEO David J. Fishman.

About The Creative Coalition:

The Creative Coalition is the premier nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charity of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating, mobilizing and activating its members on issues of public importance. The Creative Coalition uses the power and platform of the arts and entertainment communities in award-winning pubic service and advocacy campaigns. Actor Tim Daly serves as the organization’s president.

About TV Guide Magazine:

TV Guide Magazine is one of the most popular magazines in the country with nearly 13 million weekly readers. With so much quality programming and so little time, it directs television enthusiasts to what’s worth watching for all the different ways they watch. TV Guide is the premier source for television news, guidance and information about the country’s most popular leisure time activity.

About TVInsider.com:

TVInsider.com is a sharp and savvy guide to what’s worth watching, an all-access pass into TV enthusiast’s favorite shows. With its passionate team of expert writers, photographers, and videographers, it points viewers toward must-see programming as well as help them discover great shows they may have missed. TVInsider.com takes them behind the scenes, on the sets and inside the minds of the people who create the top shows.

SAMBA, the social comedy by Olivier Nakache & Éric Toledano, presented on Opening Night Friday, June 20, 2015, won the 2015 SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AWARD.

14 other Premieres were eligible to win our 2015 Audience Award. GEMMA BOVERY, the dramatic comedy directed by Anne Fontaine came second. NUMBER ONE FAN, the thriller comedy directed by Jeanne Herry, came third.

SAMBA, the latest feature by the duo of directors who brought us Intouchables, combines humor and tenderness to tell its topical story. Samba (Omar Sy, Jurassic World , Winner of the 2012 César Award for Best Actor for his role in Intouchables) a Senegalese illegal immigrant,has managed to stay off the books for ten years while closing in on his dream of becoming a chef. When the authorities finally catch up to him, he meets Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a senior executive who has recently undergone a burnout and seeks comfort by volunteering at an immigration center. Their unlikely encounter leads to a bumpy love story as they race to avoid Samba’s deportation…

SAMBA is distributed in the US by BROAD GREEN PICTURES and is set to be coming soon in movie theaters.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
 
Jury composed of  Rasha SALTI President, with Eric BAUDELAIRE, Dennis LIM, Sasha PIRKER and Ben RUSSELL.
 

GRAND PRIX OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Awarded by the International Competition Jury.
 
ENTRELAZADO ENTANGLED
Riccardo Giacconi - Colombie, 2014, 37'
World premiere

MENTION SPECIALE
BY OUR SELVES
Andrew Kötting - Royaume-Uni, 2015, 80'
 World Premiere



GEORGES DE BEAUREGARD INTERNATIONAL PRIZE

Awarded to a film in the International Competition. The prize is sponsored by the post-production company VIDÉO DE POCHE (who will make a DCP copy of the prize-winning film).
 
SANTA TERESA & OTRAS HISTORIAS - SANTA TERESA & OTHER STORIES
Nelson de Los Santos Arias - Mexique, Etats-Unis, République Dominicaine, 2015, 65'
Première mondiale / World Premiere


MENTION SPECIALE
PAWEL I WAWEL PAWEL AND PAWEL
Krzysztof Kaczmarek - Pologne, Autriche, 2014, 63'
Première internationale



FRENCH COMPETITION

Jury composed of  Thierry DE PERETTI, President, with Bernd BREHMER, Marcelline DELBECQ, Cintia Gil and Virgil VERNIER.
 

GRAND PRIX OF THE FRENCH COMPETITION
Awarded by the French Competition Jury.
 
DANS MA TETE UN ROND-POINT - FI RASSI ROND-POINT
Hassen Ferhani  - France, Algérie, 2015, 100'
World Premiere


GEORGES DE BEAUREGARD NATIONAL PRIZE
Awarded to a film in the French Competition. The prize is sponsored by the post-production company VIDÉO DE POCHE (who will make a DCP copy of the prize-winning film).
 
LA MONTAGNE MAGIQUE - THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN
Andrei Schtakleff - France, 2015, 68'
World Premiere


FIRST FILM PRIZE
Awarded by the French Competition Jury to a first film in either the International Competition, French Competition or Écrans Parallèles. The prize is sponsored by the Conseil Régional de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
 
SCHICHT - SHIFT
Alexandra Gerbaulet - Allemagne, 2015, 29'  
World Premiere

MENTION SPECIALE
ABDUL & HAMZA
Marco Grba Singh - Serbie, 2015, 49'
World Premiere




INSTITUT FRANCAIS AWARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL ONLINE FILM CRITIC
Prix remis à un film français de la Sélection Officielle des 3 compétitions, par un jury international de trois critiques de cinéma en ligne et doté par l’Institut français et d'un achat du film pour sa diffusion publique non commerciale dans le monde via la plateforme IFCinema. Le jury est composé de Neil Young, Judith Revault d'Allonnes, Zoheir Mefti.

LA MONTAGNE MAGIQUE - THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN
Andrei Schtakleff - France, 2015, 68'
World Premiere

PRIX CAMIRA
Attribué par un jury de trois personnes issues de Camira, réseau international de critiques, chercheurs, programmateurs et cinéastes.

TOPONIMIA - TOPONYMY
Jonathan Perel - Argentine, 2015, 82'

 Internationale premiere


PRIX DU GROUPEMENT NATIONAL DES CINÉMAS DE RECHERCHE (GNCR)
GNCR PRIZE
Attribué par un jury d’exploitants du GNCR à un film en Compétition Internationale ou en Compétition Française. Le Prix est doté par le GNCR dans le cadre d’un soutien à la distribution : dotation financière et édition par le GNCR d’un document et programmation du film dans les salles du Groupement. Le jury est composé de Daniel Blanvillain, Frédérique Méquinion et Juliette Grimont.
Awarded by the GNCR jury to a film selected from the Official Selection. The Prize is sponsored by the GNCR (French Experimental Cinemas Network) in the framework of support for distribution: financial prize and the publishing of a brochure by the GNCR and screenings in the Group’s cinemas.

LE DIVAN DU MONDE
Sven de Pauw - France, 2015, 95'
Première mondiale / World Premiere

MENTION SPECIALE
DANS MA TETE UN ROND-POINT  - A ROUNDABOUT IN MY HEAD
Hassen Ferhani  - France, Algérie, 2015, 100'
Première mondiale / World Premiere


PRIX DU CENTRE NATIONAL DES ARTS PLASTIQUES (CNAP)
Prix remis à un réalisateur français ou étranger pour un film de la Compétition Française et de la Compétition Premier film.

PSAUME
Nicolas Boone - France - 2015 - 48'
Première mondiale / World Premiere


PRIX DES LYCEENS
Attribué par un jury de 13 lycéens à l'un des films des Compétitions Internationale, Française et Premier.  Prix doté par Agnès B.

PSAUME
Nicolas Boone - France - 2015 - 48'
Première mondiale / World Premiere


PRIX RENAUD VICTOR
RENAUD VICTOR PRIZE
Le jury est composé de détenus volontaires du Centre Pénitentiaire des Baumettes qui ont assisté à l’ensemble des séances proposées à l’intérieur du centre pénitentiaire. Le Prix est doté par le CNC dans le cadre d'un achat de droits pour le catalogue Images de la Culture.
A selection of 9 films in competition are presented to a voluntary group of inmates in agreement with the Marseille Prison Management. The Prize is sponsored by the CNC in the context of buying copyright for the catalogue Images de la Culture.  

AL CENTRO DE LA TIERRA TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
Daniel Rosenfeld - Argentine, France, Allemagne, Pays-Bas, 2015, 86'
Première internationale



PRIX MARSEILLE ESPÉRANCE
MARSEILLE ESPÉRANCE PRIZE
Attribué par le Jury Marseille Espérance à une sélection de films en compétition internationale et française. Le Prix est doté par la Ville de Marseille.
Awarded by the Marseille Espérance Jury to a film in the International and French competitions. The Prize is sponsored by the City of Marseille.
 
HOME
Rafat Alzakout - Syrie, Liban, 2015, 70'
Première mondiale / World Premiere

MENTION SPECIALE
FIELD NIGGAS
Khalik Allah - Etats-Unis, 2014, 60'
Première internationale
 







  

AWARD OF 10,000 EUROS IN SERVICES FOR PARK - THE MOST PROMISING PROJECT

15 projects selected out of 57 were presented at Karlovy Vary IFF’s Works in Progress 2015 on July 6. The international jury has selected the most promising project which will receive the award of 10,000 Euros in services from the event’s partner Barrandov Studios.

The award for the most promising project 2015 went to: PARK by Sofia Exarchou, Greece (director). The project was presented by: Sofia Exarhou (director), Amanda Livanou (producer)

Statement of the Jury:

Set in the ruins of past glory, this film takes us to the bottom of society and ignites a firework of raw energy.

A portrayal of a young generation that has been betrayed and deprived of its future.

The Jury:

Paz Lázaro, Berlin International Film Festival (Germany)

Titus Kreyenberg, unafilm (Germany)

Jan Naszewski, New Europe Film Sales (Poland)

Film synopsis

Ten years have passed, and the Olympic Village in Athens, Greece is in decay. Among the abandoned athletic facilities and new-money tourist resorts nearby, Dimitris(17), Anna(24), a retired athlete, and their friends traverse Greece’s “glorious” past with the decadence of today, creating a portrait of a society unprepared for the brutal fall.

Director’s filmography

Sofia Exarchou is the writer/director of the short films Mesecina and Distance. She pursued post-graduate studies in Toulouse and at the Stella Adler Studio in New York. Exarchou is based in Athens, where she received degrees in Electrical Engineering and Film studies.

In 2012, she began writing her first feature Park, which has already won multiple international development awards (Crossroads CNC Development Prize, Thessaloniki 2012, Eurimages Development Award, Sarajevo 2013). Park was selected both for the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab & Director’s Lab (January & June 2014), the only European project in the year’s selection.

Producer’s filmography

Born in Athens, Sofia Exarchou graduated from the London School of Economics with an MA in International History. She has been working as an independent film and television producer since 2000. Recent titles include L by Babis Makridis (World Drama Competition, Sundance Film Festival, Competition Rotterdam FF 2012, Grand Prix, Modolist FF), They Glow in the Dark (2013) by Panagiotis Evangelidis (Fipresci Award, Thessaloniki Doc Festival, Best Documentary, Hellenic Film Academy Awards). Curently in pre-production is Pity, by Babis Makridis, and the new documentary by Panagiotis Evangelidis. She is a graduate of the EAVE Producers training program (1997). She was elected to the Board of Directors of Directors of the Hellenic Film Academy in 2013.

PARK

Greece
Directed by: Sofia Exarchou
Scriptwriter: Sofia Exarchou
Producer: Amanda Livanou, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos
Camera: Monika Lenczewska
Language: Greek, English
Genre: drama
Release date: 2016
What’s missing: sales agent, festival premiere, Polish associate for assistance with post-production funding

This film is director's debut.
This is the film's final distribution title.
Working version of the film will be presented.

Film synopsis

Ten years have passed, and the Olympic Village in Athens, Greece is in decay. Among the abandoned athletic facilities and new-money tourist resorts nearby, Dimitris (17), Anna (24), a retired athlete, and their friends traverse Greece’s “glorious” past with the decadence of today, creating a portrait of a society unprepared for the brutal fall.

Director’s filmography

Sofia Exarchou is the writer/director of the short films Mesecina and Distance. She pursued post-graduate studies in Toulouse and at the Stella Adler Studio in New York. Exarchou is based in Athens, where she received degrees in Electrical Engineering and Film studies.

In 2012, she began writing her first feature Park, which has already won multiple international development awards (Crossroads CNC Development Prize, Thessaloniki 2012, Eurimages Development Award, Sarajevo 2013). Park was selected both for the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab & Director’s Lab (January & June 2014), the only European project in the year’s selection.

Producer’s filmography

Born in Athens, Amanda Livanou graduated from the London School of Economics with an MA in International History. She has been working as an independent film and television producer since 2000. Recent titles include L by Babis Makridis (World Drama Competition, Sundance Film Festival, Competition Rotterdam FF 2012, Grand Prix, Modolist FF), They Glow in the Dark (2013) by Panagiotis Evangelidis (Fipresci Award, Thessaloniki Doc Festival, Best Documentary, Hellenic Film Academy Awards). Curently in pre-production is Pity, by Babis Makridis, and the new documentary by Panagiotis Evangelidis. She is a graduate of the EAVE Producers training program (1997). She was elected to the Board of Directors of Directors of the Hellenic Film Academy in 2013.

Charming American feature film Bob and the Trees, where the main character, logger and rap fan Bob Tarasuk, plays himself, was awarded with the Crystal Globe at the 50th anniversary Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Tarasuk accepted the Festival Grand Prix in person, together with director Diego Ongaro. 

“This really is a surprise. We had virtually no money to shoot the film so I had to invest my and my wife’s money, and I would like to thank everybody involved in making the film” stated director Ongaro, noting that he still has not found a distributor. Bob Tarasuk, too, expressed his amazement: “I have never won anything so far. Indeed, I have never left the States before, but my grandmother was Czech and my grandfather Ukrainian so I dedicate this award to them.” 

Czech films included in the Competition succeeded thanks to the actors. Alena Mihulová received the Best Actress Award for her portrayal of a dedicated nurse in Slávek Horák’s debut Home Care and Kryštof Hádekreceived the Best Actor Award as the problematic younger brother in the drama The Snake Brothersdirected by Jan Prušinovský. 

The Special Jury Prize was granted to Austrian directorPeter Brunner for the film Those Who Fall Have Wings, a drama on coming to terms with the death of a loved one. Kosovan Visar Morina received the Best Director Award for his film Babai, a story about a small boy setting off on a journey to find his father. The jury also awarded two Special Mentions to animated biographyThe Magic Mountain, directed by Anca Damian, and the drama Antonia, a tragic story of the Italian poet, respectively. 

The prize for the best film of the East of the West Competition was awarded to social drama The Wednesday Child by the Hungarian director Lili Horváth, a tale of a young girl who wants to secure better circumstances for her child than she had. A Special Mention was awarded to Romanian film The World Is Mine. 

The Grand Prix for Best Documentary Film went toHelena Třeštíková for her latest long-term documentaryMallory. The jury also awarded a Special Mention to Austrian film The Father Tapes. The prize for the best documentary film up to 30 minutes in length was awarded to White Death, a story of a Chilean military company trapped in the snow told using a variety of formats and animation techniques. The Special Mention in this category was granted to Women in Sink, a visit to an Israeli beauty salon. The Forum of Independents Award went to American transgender comedyTangerine, shot by director Sean Baker on an iPhone 5. 

Popular actress Iva Janžurová was awarded with The Festival President’s Award, an Honorary Mention for her fundamental contribution to the Czech cinematography, at the closing ceremony. “I promise that this award will not mean the end of my acting career,” noted the moved actress, thanking all her colleagues, the audience and fans.

The 50th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has just drawn to a close with a glitzy awards ceremony at the Grand Hall of Thermal Hall. In a report, several of the winners give their reactions to picking up KVIFF’s prestigious Crystal Globe award. They include Diego Ongaro, the director of Best Film Bob and the Trees; Best Director Visar Morina (Babai); the director of East of the West winner Wednesday’s Child, Lili Horvath; Best Actor Kryštof Hádek (The Snake Brothers); Best Actress Alena Mihulová (Home Care); and the director of Best Documentary prize winner Mallory, Helena Třeštíková.

The New York-based online video solutions firm Muvi LLC has made its way in to FierceOnlineVideo’s ‘Fierce 15’ list for 2015. Having been nominated in the ‘Enterprise OTT Platforms’ category, Muvi Studio (the VoD platform solution by Muvi) has finished on top on its category and graces the inaugural Fierce 15 Online Video Companies list.

Easily amongst the most visible video streaming platform builder on web today, Muvi Studio’s contribution to the industry and the promise shown in the recent times has received a due recognition from the top digital publisher.

The video on demand industry today is upbeat with the rise in number of subscribers, content licensing and original programming. However, the startup costs for an on-demand or live streaming server platform remain very high, almost killing the idea of a VoD service for new players in this space and posing growth challenges to the existing broadcasters and content owners . With the advent of Muvi Studio, it’s finally looking possible to launch a video streaming platform at ‘Zero CapEx’.

Muvi Studio is looking to disrupt this space and bring down VoD infrastructure and startup costs to a very realistic and business friendly number, making it viable for startups and major companies alike to launch their service in ‘days’, instead of ‘months’.

Muvi’s CEO Anshuman Das remarks, "The money from ads is very small, and there's no branding," Das explained. "Small guys, big guys--everyone in the industry is at the mercy of a few giants: Netflix and YouTube. That is what we want to change."

About Muvi Studio

Muvi Studio is a PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) solution by Muvi, a digital VoD platform solutions firm based in Albany, New York. It’s major offering includes a Do-It-Yourself Video-on-Demand platform builder and comes bundled  with mobile, tablet and smart TV apps. The platform, unlike others in the market, comes with a Zero CapEx offer where you only pay for the used bandwidth.

About Fierce 15

Fierce 15 is a prestigious annual list published by FierceOnlineVideo featuring the hottest online video companies that are privately held, well-funded, emerging (founded in the past few years), and have to be either based in the United States or have a significant amount of business in the U.S. online video market.

About FierceOnlineVIdeo

FierceOnlineVideo, an internationally recognized email newsletter and online publication covering the wireless industry, evaluated numerous privately-held companies, primarily doing business in the U.S., on the basis of their technology, products and services; their business plans and vision; and most of all on their potential for changing the wireless industry. The Fierce 15 companies were evaluated and selected by FierceOnlineVideo’s team of editors--Samantha Bookman, Mike Dano, and Nicole Blanchard.

Winner of the CCJTDC GLOBAL GIRLS Film Festival

The International Children's Media Center was thrilled to present the "Films For Me and You" program at the Global Girls Film Festival on June 20 at the CCJTDC. The program was the culmination of the 14-week Global Girls program during which youth at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center chose the films for the festival line-up which featured 8 films from 4 countries. After tallying audience votes from parents, staff and Residents, the Best of Fest winner

was Anti-Chiraq, The Documentary, which focuses on gang violence and crime in Chicago as it relates to the term "Chiraq" However, this filmmaker deconstructs the term and argues that if certain Chicagoans are pigeonholed as violent individuals, they are more likely to live out those roles rather than question the possible alternatives. By highlighting the Anti-Chiraq movement, director Tamiya Matlock supports a vision of progress in reducing violence in Chicago.  

Best of Fest Winner  (By audience vote) 

Anti-Chiraq, A Documentary

Director: Tamiya Matlock

USA, 2014

Winners of the New Moms Women's View Film Festival

The Women's View Film Festival opened on June 17 at New Moms, Inc. with the Wind of Change program held at the New Moms center. Curated by Residents of New Moms, the screening was titled "Wind of Change" because of the recurring theme of change in each of the 10 films from 13 different countries. The Women's View Festival Jury Prize was awarded by the New Moms Festival Jury, to the film which was the most successful at portraying women in strong, courageous and compassionate roles. The 20145 Jury Prize was awarded to Lioness of Lisabi, which follows the main character Funmi in 1940s Nigeria as she seeks balance between modernity and tradition after being sent to school in England, to help confront the patriarchal oppression still plagues her homeland. Following the screening of Finding Friends and ourselves, at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, the Best of Fest ballots were tallied for both dates. The Best of Fest Winner by popular vote is A Cautionary Tail, voiced by Cate Blanchett, David Wenham and about a young girl who was born with a tail that expresses her emotions.  

Best of Fest Winner  (By audience vote) 

  A Cautionary Tail 

  Director: Simon Rippingale

  Australia, 2012

Women's View Festival Jury Prize

 
          Lioness of Lisabi

          Director: Vlady Valentin Oszekiel

          USA/Trinidad, 2008

Winner of the Darwin School ICFF

The International Children's FilmFest had an enchanted opening on June 12 with "Maybe It's Magic", at Darwin Elementary School in Logan Square, where students and teachers viewed 9 short films from 8 different countries. The winner of the Best of Fest award was Brazil'sColored Pencils (Lápis de Cor) about Claudio, a 9 year old boy who lives with his mother and loves to draw. His father has been gone for a few years, and Claudio believes drawing a color portrait of his father will help him come home. Finally, Claudio's family is reunited when he completes the portrait of his dreams.

 Best of Fest Winner

  Colored Pencils

  Director: Alice Gomes

  Brazil, 2010

Winner of the Third Albany Park Community Center ICFilmFest

The ICMC partnered with the Albany Park Community Center (APCC) to present a third exciting year of screenings. The ICFilmFest featured two film programs for different age groups on June 26, titled "I Wonder" and "Animation Extravaganza." The first showing of the festival included 14 films from 9 different countries for ages 2-5, while the second showing had 12 films from 9 countries for ages 7-10, all animated. The winner of the Best of Fest award, as determined by the children, was Orange Ô Despair, a charming French animated film about an orange living in the grocery store who prefers the company of pineapples to his stoic and stuffy citrus society. Director John Banana creates a comical tale about whether or not the grass really is greener on the other side.

 Best of Fest Winner

          Orange Ô Despair

          Director: John Banana

  France, 2011

Credits

The ICFilmFest is supported by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, by the Polk Bros. Foundation and by Howard Conant. Special thanks to the Leo S. Guthman Fund, the Albert Pick, Jr. Fund and an Anonymous Donor for their support of the Global Girls Festival program.

Relatos Salvajes was the absolute winner in last night´s Platino Awards of the Iberoamerican Cinema.

The film, nominated to the Oscars for Argentina this year, got 8 out of 9awards leaving its closest oponent Spanish film 'La Isla Mínima' just with the best photography award. The film now starting its international parcour under the na of Marshland was also awarded as best film and best actor by the public voting through an internet poll.

Spanish actor Oscar Jaenada won as best actor for his portrait of Cantinflas.

This year´s Platino Honor Award was handed to Antonio Banderas. The actor gave a great acceptance speech reivindicating the Iberoamerican cinema. In his twitter he wrote 

Muy feliz y agradecido por este premio #PlatinodeHonor Happy and grateful for this award. Thank you very much.

#PremiosPlatinoPremios PlatinoStarlite Marbella

On Saturday, the 18th of July, the 11th edition of Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival came to a conclusion with a magnificent closing ceremony.

Honorary Vicious Cat award for lifetime achievement was received by the legendary German actor Udo Kier.

In our competition programs, the following awards were given:

-VICIOUS CAT for best feature film: Ghoul (Czech Republic, 2015, Petr Jákl)
 Special Mention: Idyll (Idila, Slovenia, 2015, Tomaž Gorkič)

-NOISY CAT for best music documentary: Morphine: Journey of Dreams (USA, Italy, 2014, Mark Shuman)

-SLAK'S VICIOUS CAT for best short film: Dead Hearts (Canada, 2014, Stephen W. Martin)

-MELIES D'ARGENT for best European fantastic short film: Loose Ends / Dernière formalité (Belgija, 2014, Stéphane Everaert)

-VICIOUS CAT WINE CHAMPION for best wine: Revolution, Tourist Farm Hlebec


The winning film of the Little Workshop of Horrors is Blood Snake 2: Revenge of the Two Brothers (Slovenija, 2015, Aron Horvath).

Petr Jákl

Milan Hlebec

Jury motivations:

- VICIOUS CAT (Jury: Richard Stanley, Jonathan English, Ivan Nedoh)

 For the main Vicious Cat award, this year saw a group of extremely impressive films, each with an exceptional quality which makes for a very difficult decision to choose one above the others. As always with film, its almost impossible to say this film is better than that. However, on taking into consideration the overall elements that are essential to a great film, the story, the characters and performances, the technical skills and perhaps, since this is a horror festival, just how scary the film is, we found that GHOUL was an exceptional work. Despite being a found footage story and the challenges this concept can provide, the film was convincing, passionate, riveting, and one of the scariest films we have had the pleasure of featuring at Grossman. We are delighted to award it this years Vicious Cat.

For IDYLL a special commendation.
As filmmaking develops around the world, with new trends and styles, one cannot give enough importance to new efforts in genre film-making, something we here at Grossman are particularly committed to. Therefore, it is with great respect and admiration, and even thanks, that we honor the work and special talent that went into making Slovenia's first ever horror film. We hope and believe this inspires others to continue on this path of horror and genre films from this country and we award it a special commendation at this year festival.

- NOISY CAT (Jury: Igor Vidmar, Igor Bašin, Matej Končan)

The documentary about one of the most important bands of the 90-ties, Bostonians Morphine, presents the whole genesis and evolution of its original sound as well as its internal creative dynamic through efective editing of the seminal archive material and the emotional but not sentimental testimonials by band members and the partner of Morphine leader and soul,the late Mark Sandman: it is a fitting document and tribute to a band that was a veritable alternative within the Nirvana-istic dominant rock alternative of the decade.

- SLAK'S VICIOUS CAT (Jury: Stjepan Hundić, Milan Todorović, Sakari Määttä)

 Good storytelling, acting, directing, camera work and production design on a level of a feature film from a perspective of children who are listening to their grandpa's bedtime story. Also puts human emotions in the very center of the horror fairy tale with a feelgood feeling at the end.

-MELIES D'ARGENT (Jury: Stjepan Hundić, Milan Todorović, Sakari Määttä)

 Very original and humourous aproach to fantastic comedy genre with characters and themes that everybody can relate to on a personal level. High production values and prolific acting lead to a unexpected ending. A well told story set in one room.